Guard fence



Y www@ L. D. ENGLIE gully i165, i935,

GUARD FENCE Filed Maron 1e, .1.953

:Ennis-HEHE.

Patented v`luly 16, 17935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates in general to a guard or fence to prevent articles or persons from falling and has more particular reference to a bed guard for preventing children or patients from falling 5 out of bed.

One of the important objects of the invention is in the provision cf a guard of this kind which may be readily attached to a bed for providing a guard therefor.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of adjustable clamps for attachment to various types of bedsteads or other supports.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for quickly attach ing and disconnecting the fastening ropes from a bed or support to which they are attached.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a supporting claim which is variable for attachment to various supports with adjustable confining means for holding it against lateral movement on a support to which it is attached.

Other objects of the invention Will appear hereinafter, the preferred construction being illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective .cfa bed with a guard embodying this invention attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the Wire clamp adjustment for the fastening ropes;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of an end post and clamp for supporting a guard of this kind;

Fig. 4 is a detail View partly in section of the clamp;

Fig. 5 shows a post with spacing collars; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the inner face of one `of the clamp parts.

It is frequently desirable to erect a temporary restraining guard or fence for the purpose of carrying articles, for example, upon a running board, or to prevent a child or other person from falling out of bed. If applied to an ordinary bed it may be attached to the bed posts at the head and foot or to intermediate spindles, or if the head and footboards are solid so that it is impossible to pass a rope around or through them an end support may be provided comprising an end post and an adjustable supporting clamp for engaging the bed side rail and holding the end post in upright position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a bed is shown in Fig. 1 having a head board I, a foot board 2, side rails 3, and a sleeping support II.

The guard or fence comprises a number of posts 55 5 each having spaced diametric holes through which flexible cables or ropes 6 and I are inserted.

In order to hold the posts in proper spaced relation the ropes are provided With knots 8 at the ends and intermediate the ends of the ropes or with gripping rings 9 which form a collar and 5 prevent the post from slipping or being displaced with respect to the rope. v

In order to fasten the fence quickly at either or both ends it may simply be tied about the bed corner post orgabout any one of the intermediate l0 spindles or Vif desired a fastener I0 preferably formed of bent Wire and having a twisted portion I I tightly fastening it to the rope. This fastener forms a loop with a reduced end portion I2 to receive a rope 6 and an enlarged portion I3 to l15 admit a knot8 in the rope therethrough or to permit a collar 9 to pass therethrough, eitherthe knot or the collar being gripped by the reduced portion I2. Thus in fastening the end of a rope, it is simply passed around a bed post or spindle, the knotted portion is inserted through the enlarged portion I3 of the fastener, and pulled up tight.

For a closed bed end I5, a two-piece clamp is provided for supporting an end post I6. The clamp members I'I and I8 are similar but have openings I9 of different sizes for engaging and supporting the lower end of a post I6, the plates also having registering openings 20 through which threaded fastening bolts 2| are inserted having lock nuts 22 for drawing them up tightly against the opposite sides or edges of a side rail 3. In order to limit and position the plates they are provided with intermediate ridges 23 for abutting the edge or side of a side board or rail 3 to which they are attached. Extending transversely of each plate is a perforation 24, a part 25 of which is open to the clamping surface of the plate. Extending through this perforation is a rod 26 having an angular extremity 21 adaptedto extend in the space 25 and having its other end threaded for receiving a lock nut 28.

In clamping position the plates II and I8 are placed oppositely in engagement with a side rail or board 3, the ridges 23 resting against one edge of the board and the clamping rod 26 having its bent end 2'I in engagement with the side of the board opposite the ridge 23. The two clamping plates are held tightly together by the lock nuts 22 threaded on the bolts 2l and each clamping plate is held tightly against the board and against lateral displacement with respect thereto by the lock nuts 28.

These clamping plates are therefore designed and intended to engage either with a wood side 55 rail or a side board of considerable width and also to engage a thin angle bar either in upright or in inverted position.

With such a clamping support this guard or fence may be attached not only to a bed but also to the running board of an automobile and. many other positions where such a guard or fence is desired. In any form the ropes may be knotted or provided with metal collars S for holding the posts in proper spaced relation and one or both ends of the attaching ropes may be provided with fasteners I Dior quickly engaging any one of a number of knots or collars by means of which the guard orfence is secured in place.

I claim: l

l. A guard fence comprising a plurality of posts, ropes connecting the posts and spacing them apart, supporting means for the end posts cornprising clamping plates movable apart to engage a horizontal support therebetween, and the clamping .plates having holes therein for -engaging the lower end of the supporting post.

2. In a guard fence, a plurality of posts, ropes connecting the posts and spacing them apart, means for supporting the end posts, said means `comprisingperforated clamping plates to engage the lowerextremity of an end post, means extending through the plates for clamping them together at spaced distances apart, and means eX tending transversely of the plates from the outside thereof for hooking over the inner edge of a support to prevent lateral outward movement of the plates with respect to a support.

3. A guard fence comprising end Vand intermediate posts and ropes connecting the posts and spacing them apart and a clamp for each end post comprising opposite perforated plates for engaging the lower Vextremity of the end posts, fastening means inserted through the plates for drawing themy tightly together, the plates having ridges for abutting the opposite edges of a supportV to which it is attached and openings transverse to the ridges, a bar with a bent end extending through the opening and engageable with the side of a support opposite the ridge, and means for drawing the bar in the direction of the ridge for confining a support therebetween thereby holding the plates against lateral movement.

4. A bed guard comprising a fence having posts, ropes connecting the posts and spacing them apart, supporting clamps for the end posts, said clamps having opposite plates with perforations to engage the end of the end post, means for drawing the plates tightly toward each other, transverse ridgesr in the plates to engage the opposite upper and lower edges of a side board support and fastening means extending transversely of the ridges and movableinthe plates with a projection to engage the edge of a support opposite the ridge andvto confine such support between the projection and the ridge for holding the plate againstlateral movement. y

5. A bed side rail clamp for supporting aguard fence comprising plates to engage the upper and lower edges Yof the rail, means for clamping. the plates togethen'the plates having transverse perW forations with an opening at the inner sides of the plates, fastening means insertable through the perforations and having a projection Ymovable in the said face opening and threaded means for drawing the projection up Atightly against the inside edge or a bed railA for preventing outward lateral movement of the clamp.

` LAWRENCEv D. ENGLE. 

